Editorial | Same-sex redux

A marriage equality rally at the Indiana Statehouse this year.

Hoosier lawmakers will have plenty on their plates when the legislature opens the 2014 session in January.

The economy, jobs, education and anti-poverty efforts are in dire need of attention by Indiana legislators.

So what's a hot issue for Republicans who control the House, Senate and governor's office?

Why, gay marriage, of course.

Even as one state after another moves to legalize same-sex marriages, and attitudes nationwide have undergone a seismic shift on the subject, Indiana's GOP lawmakers seem stuck solidly in the past on a proposed ban that might serve to whip their conservative base but will do nothing to serve Indiana citizens.

Indiana law already forbids same-sex marriage. But that's not good enough for some lawmakers, who want to enact a constitutional amendment (similar, sadly, to the one Kentucky adopted in 2004) that would make it harder to challenge in court, the Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday.

Democrats are urging Republican leaders to drop the proposed amendment.

"Don't you have more important, urgent things to deal with?" demanded Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, an Anderson Democrat, echoing comments he said came from constituents.

House Minority Leader Scott Pelath, a Michigan City Democrat, in an opinion piece that ran in this newspaper earlier this month, called on Gov. Mike Pence, Senate leader David Long and and House Speaker Brian Bosma to back off what he called "an ugly and divisive" battle over same-sex marriage to focus instead on issues far more pressing -jobs, education and economic development.

Yet Senators Long and Bosma indicated Tuesday during an organizational day for the 2014 legislature they are determined to press ahead, even though Mr. Bosma acknowledged more urgent matters. Early childhood education, road funding, equitable business taxes and better job skills for Hoosiers are top priorities for the House GOP, he said.

The amendment, which would go to voters in 2014 if it passes the legislature, bans same-sex marriages as well as civil unions and other arrangments similar to marriages.

Already the dispute is dividing Hoosiers.

The Indiana Family Institute is urging passage while Freedom Indiana, which opposes it, is bombarding lawmakers with letters, postcards and telephone calls, urging them to reject the amendment.

Even lawmakers who favor it acknowledge attitudes are changing. So here's a way out for any lawmakers seeking an exit strategy.

Indiana has some dismal statistics.

Unemployment is above 8 percent.

Poverty is worsening for the state's children, 23 percent of whom live in poverty.